Top of his game in 2009, Mark Ingram a running back only a sophomore for Alabama was a lead prospect for the NfL draft at the time. Rushing 1,658 yards in a single season breaking Alabama’s previous school record. He also produced the second highest all purpose yards grabbing 32 passes for 334 yards. He was the first Alabama Heisman trophy winner during that 2009 season and in the same year lead them to a national championship over Texas 37-21. Ingram scored 2 touchdowns that game rushing for 116 yards on 22 carries. The next year his Junior season he missed his first game due to a minor knee surgery. His first game back he rushed over 150 yards and 2 touchdowns the first quarter. Alabama’s first loss came that season against South Carolina who held Ingram to only 41 yards. He ended up that season with 875 rushing yards with 13 touchdown. After his Junior season he announced he would enter the 2011 NFL draft. At this time he was well worth a first round draft pick. He ended up the 28th pick for the New Orleans Saints.
Mark Ingram has yet to shine in the NFL he is an average running back with average numbers and in some places low numbers. In his rookie year he rushed for 474 yards on 122 attempts making his average run only 3.9 yards. The average running backs yards per season is between 800 and 1,000. As you see Ingram cannot compare to these other backs. His best season was last season where he rushed for 964 yards on 226 attempts making him a normal running back for the league. Even in this season he didn’t shine above top running backs such as DeMarco Murray, Le’Veon Bell, LeSean McCoy, and 10 other notable running backs. He was ranked 14th out of the league with Russell Wilson quarterback of the Seahawks only 100 rushing yards fewer than him.
Ingram is now 25 and as he gets older people hope that he gets better but with recent studies done most running backs shine at the age of 27 but after that there carries fall. Ingram has roughly 2 good years left in the NFL and if the studies are true he must pick up his game. Ingram told reporters earlier this year that he wants a bigger role in the Saints offense and with this he believes that he can finally have his breakout year that he and everyone has been looking for.
This story shows how a player most dominant in college can go to the NFL and collapse. Many believe the elite of college get to the NFL and don’t shine because everyone in the NFL was that elite player so when 2 elite players match up one will always be better so Mark Ingram might have been good in college against other mediocre players but can’t face the elite as well.
Mark Ingram has yet to shine in the NFL he is an average running back with average numbers and in some places low numbers. In his rookie year he rushed for 474 yards on 122 attempts making his average run only 3.9 yards. The average running backs yards per season is between 800 and 1,000. As you see Ingram cannot compare to these other backs. His best season was last season where he rushed for 964 yards on 226 attempts making him a normal running back for the league. Even in this season he didn’t shine above top running backs such as DeMarco Murray, Le’Veon Bell, LeSean McCoy, and 10 other notable running backs. He was ranked 14th out of the league with Russell Wilson quarterback of the Seahawks only 100 rushing yards fewer than him.
Ingram is now 25 and as he gets older people hope that he gets better but with recent studies done most running backs shine at the age of 27 but after that there carries fall. Ingram has roughly 2 good years left in the NFL and if the studies are true he must pick up his game. Ingram told reporters earlier this year that he wants a bigger role in the Saints offense and with this he believes that he can finally have his breakout year that he and everyone has been looking for.
This story shows how a player most dominant in college can go to the NFL and collapse. Many believe the elite of college get to the NFL and don’t shine because everyone in the NFL was that elite player so when 2 elite players match up one will always be better so Mark Ingram might have been good in college against other mediocre players but can’t face the elite as well.